This album is more for people who want to own everything by Damian Marley than anything else. Get "Welcome to Jamrock" and "Halfway Tree" before you get this album, because those albums show Damian in his true form. This is the beginning of Jr. Gong and isn't quite as polished. The album should really be called "Damian and Stephen Marley - Mr. Marley" because Stephen makes an appearance on almost all of the songs, and he produces them all. Most of the songs are remakes of Bob Marley classics, with Stephen singing the parts Bob sang and Damian adding his own "toasting" verses on them. "Trouble" = Bob's "So Much Trouble In The World." "10,000 Chariots" = Bob's "Midnight Ravers." "Kingston 12" = Bob's "Trenchtown Rock." "Keep On Grooving" = Bob's "Keep On Moving." "Searching (So Much Bubble)" = Bob's "So Much Trouble In The World" (again). "One More Cup Of Coffee" = Bob's "One Cup Of Coffee" (the best Bob cover on here in my opinion). "Me Name Jr. Gong" has Bob's "Crazy Baldhead" as the background music. So, its mainly a tribute to Bob Marley with newer versions of his songs.
The highlights of this album are "Love and Inity," "One More Cup Of Coffee," "Me Name Jr. Gong," and "Mr. Marley." If you like dancehall/hip-hop or if you've heard all of Bob's songs and want newer versions of them, this cd is for you. If you don't have "Welcome to Jamrock" or "Halfway Tree," get them first. They are both 5 star albums.
August 6, 2007 |  | I am Damian Marley's NEWEST BIGGEST FAN! |  |
Aside from his family, I think I could come in at a VERY close second on being a huge Damian Marley fan. Not only is he talented, his music is SO intelligent! It is raw, earthy and reminicient of the family tradition (going back to Bob, of course)! I wasn't a big fan of reggae UNTIL I heard Damian for the first time, to be honest (probably because Ziggy can be hard to follow at first). Bob was always classic, but when he was alive, I was still too young to know what reggae was. Damian brought it all back to me. This one, especially because of its incredibly "rough" edges (that are perfected in Halfway Tree). A totally GREAT purchase! Worth any price you pay for it! Absolute classic!
August 5, 2006Thank you Bob, as if the legacy of his music was not enough, his greatest legacy is his Children. Zig Zag, Ragamuff, Ju Ju, and Ky-mani, have continued to carry the troch admirably. This CD is an absolute must own, Jr. is fast becoming the best Reggae artist around, and this CD really sticks to his roots while adding some great beats and lyrics, Raga Muff and Jr. are a deadly combo, and they absolutely rock this CD out, Kingston 12, One More Cup of Coffee, Trouble, are Great tribute to their Dad. Makes me want to have children, Bob must be in heaven with a smile ear to ear.
April 15, 2006| | | Damian Marley's first album and ode to his father. | |
The title of Mr. Marley is truly the correct one. Many tracks contain the lyrics of Bob Marley, sung by Bob's son and Damian's half-brother Stephen. Damian toasts his way through an array of roots, and sometimes almost hip hop influenced reggae. This was a Marley production, and there's plenty of Marley influence. Some beats come from the days when Damian had seen his big brother Ziggy, and his band The Melody Makers (contained Cedella Marley, Bob's daughter), others are complete creations by Stephen "Raggamuffin" Marley, who has produced not only Damian's album, but "Chant Down Babylon", a Bob Marley album containing many of hip hops largest name. The Marley Brothers truly start to develop the type of music you hear later in "Halfway Tree" and "Welcome To Jamrock". It sounds nothing like "Welcome to Jamrock" for the most part, but is essential to understand the path Damian took to get to where he is musically at with his lyrics and stephen's producing.
November 3, 2005| | | Mr.Marley and Halfway Tree by Shanelle | |
Damian is such a good artist and he is soooooooo cute I just absolutely love him.Get the cd's both while you can, because they will run out definitely.My mother bought both cds and then bought for my cousins in St.Vincent and Grenada. These are two wonderful cds with excellent songs such as"Me Name Jr. Gong", "10,000 Chariots," It Was Written, and More Justice. Also if you are a true Jr.Gong fan go to this website to see his new video"Welcome to Jamrock."
August 16, 2005More reviews at Amazon.com ...
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